This poem is taken from PN Review 289, Volume 52 Number 5, May - June 2026.
Two Poems
Words
1.
The word ‘slice’ makes one salivate.
You think of all the good times in your life.
The happy times
But what cake?
To whom do I owe the pleasure?
Never mind.
Cakes are eaten on all occasions
In all countries.
& It isn’t as if some sleepless old man in the sky
Had of a sudden descended on a cupboard
Whacked you at 3am
With a ray of sunshine.
But it is very much like that.
There you are. You are the cupboard.
& ray is another such word.
Nice words to die with. You lie awake
...
1.
The word ‘slice’ makes one salivate.
You think of all the good times in your life.
The happy times
But what cake?
To whom do I owe the pleasure?
Never mind.
Cakes are eaten on all occasions
In all countries.
& It isn’t as if some sleepless old man in the sky
Had of a sudden descended on a cupboard
Whacked you at 3am
With a ray of sunshine.
But it is very much like that.
There you are. You are the cupboard.
& ray is another such word.
Nice words to die with. You lie awake
...
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